Sing to Christmas, even in protest

My favorite part of the holiday season is the music: Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis, Burl Ives. And for something a bit less stale, how about Kirsty MacColl and the Pogues singing the beautiful song, “Fairytale of New York.”

Then there’s the nontraditional version of the “12 Days of Christmas” being sung today in Lansing by right-to-work protesters. This version includes “auto workers welding, police protecting, shoppers shopping, families eating, firefighters saving and teachers teaching (except for those teachers who took personal days today in order to protest.)”

I don’t even care that shopping malls started playing Christmas music right after Halloween. Honest to God, I was walking down a store aisle and I swear I heard “Monster Mash” segue right into “Jingle Bell Rock.”

I guess I’m a music addict, but I’m not alone. I was in Warren Mayor Jim Fouts’ office the other day trying to explain why I’m such a smart-ass. Meanwhile I couldn’t take my eyes off the mayor’s collection of photos paying tribute to one of the greatest singers of all time, Frank Sinatra. Ol’ Blue Eyes does a swell version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” though I prefer his decidedly unChristmasy “Summer Wind.”

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Last week I proved my manic dedication to music by traveling to New York for a pair of performances by the rock band X. Of course you’ve never heard of X. But it’s kind of nice to covet an obscure band, and then get huffy if the band ever gets popular and everyone jumps on the band-wagon. There’s certainly nothing unique about liking the Beatles.

Catching live music locally is not always easy. The karaoke craze eliminated lots of gigs for bands. My latest favorite place to hear rock ’n’ roll is Winners in Clinton Township. This bar features different bands each Friday and Saturday. And there is plenty of parking — I mean plenty. Winners’ parking lot is freakishly huge. In fact, I plan on suggesting that Winners open another bar at the opposite end of the parking lot and call it Losers, which would cater to people like me who show up at 1 a.m. then act incredulous when told to leave an hour later.

Another consistently wonderful place to hear live music is The Blue Goose Inn of St. Clair Shores, which showcases bands four nights a week. Jimmy McCarty, formerly of The Rockets, frequently performs there with his band Mystery Train. But men, be warned: There is no mirror in the men’s bathroom. So check for spinach in your teeth while still in your car.

Dooley’s on Gratiot in Roseville occasionally has live music. I saw Detroit’s best cover band, The Reefermen perform there inside a heated tent. I’m not sure what the Reefermen are up to right now — probably celebrating out in Seattle, getting way up high in the Space Needle.

It’s nice to see the good folk at Orleans Billiards Cafe in Mount Clemens working to help replace the live music of the Stars and Stripes Festival, which will move to Freedom Hill in July. Stop into Orleans and ask bartender Eric about how he once organized the famous Catalina Wine Mixer.

I recently saw The Who perform their album “Quadrophenia” at Joe Louis Arena. But you know what? I’m more excited about seeing The Polish Muslims’ annual Christmas show Friday at the 1477 Grille in Troy. The Polish Muslims’ latest album? “Quadroswinia.”